Course Description: Relational Database Design (Windows)
Overview: At work, storing and accessing data are part of a person's day-to-day activities. One of the most efficient and powerful ways of managing data is by using relational databases. Information can be stored, linked, and managed using a simple relational database application and its associated tools. You have used databases to store and retrieve data. Now, you may want to plan and design your own database. A well-designed database allows easy maintenance and quick access of data. In this course, you will plan, design, and create a functional and efficient relational database. You can create effective database designs by applying relational database design techniques.

Prerequisites: Before taking this course, students should be familiar with the basic functions of their computer’s operating system. Students should also have basic word processing skills, such as copying and pasting text, formatting text, and so on.

Delivery method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities.

Target student: Individuals who are able to write simple queries or run queries that someone else has designed.

What's next: Learning FileMaker Pro: Introduction, the next course in this series, teaches students how to create and use relational databases with FileMaker Pro.

Objectives

Performance-based objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Analyze client requirements.
  • Create a preliminary design.
  • Implement the database design.
  • Generate reports.
  • Customize a database.

Course Content
Lesson 1: Analyzing Client Requirements
Topic 1A: Analyze Current Data Storage Systems
Topic 1B: Identify New Client Requirements
Topic 1C: Determine the Required Data Fields
Topic 1D: Group Fields into Tables
Topic 1E: Identify Key Fields

Lesson 2: Creating a Preliminary Design
Topic 2A: Create a Preliminary Entity Relationship Diagram
Topic 2B: Apply the First Normal Form
Topic 2C: Apply the Second Normal Form
Topic 2D: Apply the Third Normal Form
Topic 2E: Apply the Higher Normal Forms
Topic 2F: Denormalize Tables
Topic 2G: Incorporate Client Feedback

Lesson 3: Implementing the Database Design
Topic 3A: Translate Business Rules into Constraints
Topic 3B: Create Tables
Topic 3C: Create Indexes

Lesson 4: Generating Reports
Topic 4A: Manipulate Data
Topic 4D: Generate Summary Reports


Lesson 5: Customizing a Database
Topic 5A: Modify Constraints
Topic 5B: Modify Fields
Topic 5C: Modify Tables